trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.-Ezek. xxxiii.

¶ Then shall another say:

Hear also the words of Christ from the tenth chapter of the Gospel by St. John: VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. Then

said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Hear ye also the instructions of St. Paul, to Timothy and Titus, his sons in the Gospel:

THOU

HOU, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth,

entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop, then, must be blameless, as the steward of God: not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he falt into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine; continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

;

¶ Then shall the chairman or moderator address the candidate,

YOU

saying:

OU have heard, beloved brother, in the holy lessons taken out of the Scriptures, of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye are called. And, now again, we exhort you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you have in remembrance into how high a dignity, and to how weighty an office, ye are called to be a messenger, watchman, and steward of the Lord; to teach and to premonish, to feed and provide for, the Lord's family; to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this evil world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever. We have good hope that you have weighed and pondered these things with yourself long before this time: and that you have clearly determined, by God's grace, to give yourself wholly to this office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you: so that, as much as lieth in you, you will apply yourself wholly to this one thing, and draw all your cares and studies this way, and that you will continually pray to God. the Father, by the mediation of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost; that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, ye may wax riper and stronger in your ministry; and that ye may so endeavor yourself, from time to time, to sanctify the lives of you and yours, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, that ye may be a wholesome and

godly example, and pattern for the people to follow.

And now that this present congregation of Christ, here assembled, may also understand your mind and will in these things, and that this your promise may the more move you to do your duties, ye shall answer plainly to these things which we, in the name of God and his church, shall demand of you touching the

same:

C. Do you think, in your heart, that you

are truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the office of ministers?

C.

Ans. I do.

A

RE

you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?

C.

Ans. I am so persuaded.

AND are you determined out of the said

Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the Scriptures?

Ans. I have so determined by God's grace.

C. WILL you, then, give your faithful dil

igence always so to minister the doctrine and sacraments, and discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded?

Ans. I will so do, by the help of the Lord.